Up top, there's a Bow Tie intake manifold to draw in fuel and air from the Demon 1,090cfm carburetor, while the GM late-model HEI distributor lights the fire. Accessories are run by a Street & Performance serpentine belt system, and a Griffin aluminum radiator with dual electric fans keep the whole operation cool. With 685 lb-ft of torque underfoot, a stock transmission was out of the question. Whitey chose a highly-modified TH400 automatic with a PTC torque converter featuring a stall speed of 3,500 rpm. Moving further back, you'll find a custom 3-inch diameter driveshaft and a Strange ring and pinion with a 3.70:1 ratio.
When the Pierce brothers moved onto the body, it was the typical Tri-Five problem areas that needed replacing. New quarter-panels and door skins, as well as inner and outer rocker panels were necessary to rid the two-door post body of rust. Patchwork was necessary on the front fenders, and a 2-inch cowl induction hood replaces the original unit. From there, Brian Black took over and handled the bodywork on the '56 before laying down the PPG materials, mixed in a custom silver-green and white. Countless hours of sanding, buffing and polishing resulted in a fine finish, and a few miles of flawless trim accent the body.
Inside, there's an expanse of green leather to match the exterior, all stitched by the crew at Hot Rod Interiors by Chuck. The shop wrapped custom seats in green leather, and added white ostrich-skin inserts for a nice touch. A custom console rides between the bucket seats, while hand-built interior panels attach to every known surface inside the Chevy, including the trunk. The dash retains its classic styling, but upgrades such as the billet aluminum trim, Classic Instruments gauge cluster and chrome ididit steering column spruce it up a bit. Vintage Air keeps the cockpit comfortable, and it's operated with the original heater controls to keep things simple.
A total of 14 months and lots of dollar signs went into the buildup of this fine '56, and the finished product speaks volumes about the efforts.